By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka has called for the compulsory and routine drug and alcohol testing of commercial drivers across Nigeria after witnessing what he described as a disturbing incident involving a tricycle (Keke) operator in Abuja.
In a post made on his X handle on Monday, Chidoka recounted how he encountered a commercial tricycle driver allegedly smoking marijuana during his evening exercise on a secluded, tree-lined road near the Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the incident occurred while he was on a one-hour, 50-minute run. He said he initially assumed the driver had parked because of a mechanical fault, but on his return along the same route, he noticed thick smoke and the unmistakable smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
Chidoka said the driver, whom he described as a man in his thirties, remained seated inside the parked tricycle smoking, with a small green bottle beside him. He added that the driver stayed at the location for more than an hour.
The former FRSC boss expressed concern that the driver could have resumed commercial operations after consuming the substance, thereby exposing unsuspecting passengers to avoidable danger.
“When he eventually leaves, he may return to the road and pick up unsuspecting passengers. If he does so while impaired, every passenger who boards that Keke is placed at unnecessary risk,” he warned.
Chidoka also raised concerns over what he described as poor vehicle identification standards, noting that the tricycle’s rear metal grill obscured its licence plate, making it difficult to identify the vehicle for enforcement purposes.
He argued that allowing commercial vehicles to operate with concealed registration numbers undermines effective law enforcement and public safety.
Reflecting on his tenure as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Chidoka recalled introducing mandatory blood, alcohol and drug testing for commercial drivers as part of the driver’s licence reform programme.
According to him, the policy recognised that the fitness of commercial drivers is a public safety concern rather than a matter of personal choice, but lamented that its implementation has remained weak over the years.
He urged the Abuja Municipal Area Council, local government authorities and transport regulators nationwide to institutionalise routine and random alcohol and drug screening for commercial drivers before issuing or renewing operational permits.
Chidoka noted that similar practices are common in many countries where transport authorities regularly assess drivers’ fitness to ensure passenger safety.
He further advocated extending fitness-for-duty standards to other occupations involving public trust, including private security personnel, arguing that such measures are essential for protecting lives.
Emphasising the broader responsibilities of government, Chidoka said governance should not be measured solely by roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure but also by the effective regulation of everyday services that make cities safe and liveable.
“A city that cannot assure its citizens that the person transporting them is sober is not yet delivering the full promise of governance,” he stated.
